Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 37: Twenty-Seven Days Before I Chose The Monster

The cell door clanged shut behind me, echoing like a death knell. I sank against the cold stone wall, Gideon’s shocked face still burned into my mind. Guards had hauled me away, their grips bruising, but I didn’t fight. Not yet. Twenty-seven days. That’s what Devon had said. Twenty-seven days until i lose yhe chance to ever see him again. My throat ached from that realisation. I do not know why it did.

Day one blurred into night. No food, just stale water from a dripping faucet. I paced, replaying Devon’s kiss, his plea. "Come back, Irene. I’ll wait." His voice haunted me, obsessive, unyielding. I slammed my fist into the wall, knuckles splitting. "Shut up," I muttered to the empty air.

By day two, hunger gnawed. A guard shoved in a tray—bread, gruel. "Traitor," he snarled. I snatched the bread, tore into it. "Tell Gideon I want to see him." He laughed, slammed the door.

Day three: Brielle slipped in during shift change, her Omega scent faint under the grime. "Irene! Oh gods, I have missed you so much, what happened? They say you vanished with some killer—"

I missed her, too but I still felt emptiness even after seeing her. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

I grabbed her hands through the bars. "Listen. It was Devon. He’s... not dead. Not really. He pulled me into this ghost world. He built it for me, Bri. Obsessed. He killed Simon, threw me across the hall like a ragdoll, then forced a wedding. Bit me, claimed me. Said he’d wait forever."

Her eyes widened. "Devon’s dead. You killed him."

I shook my head. "Not anymore. Twenty-seven days, Bri. Then I’m no longer his."

She paled. "I’ll tell Gideon. He’s Alpha now—took over after the chaos."

Day four: No visitors. I scratched tallies on the wall, zoning out to Devon’s words. "I loved you when you killed me." Sick, twisted love. Why did it echo so loud?

Day five: Old friends trickled in. Lila, from my Alpha daughter days, bribed a guard. "Irene! We heard. Gideon’s fighting for you." She pressed chocolates through the bars. "Your wolf—it’s back? I can smell it."

Yeah, it was. She spoke to me but I didn’t respond. My mind was elsewhere.

I nodded, flexing my claws. Strength surged, like before Devon ruined everything. "Yeah. But keep quiet."

Day six: More friends—Jax, Mia. They whispered pack gossip, how Gideon was stabilizing things. I half-listened, mind on Devon. "Run all you want, Irene. You’re mine in every world."

Day seven: Exhaustion hit. I curled on the cot, dreaming of his grey eyes, his hands pinning me. Woke sweating, heart racing.

Day eight: Brielle again. "Gideon’s close to bailing you. Evidence is thin—you vanished, but no proof you’re an accomplice."

"Good," I said flatly. Zoning out again.

Day nine: Silence. I punched the wall until my hands bled, screaming internally. Devon’s obsession clung like smoke.

Day ten: The door swung open. Gideon strode in, guards flanking. "Irene. You’re out."

I stood, legs shaky. "About time, Alpha."

He winced at the title. "Come on. You’re staying with me. Penthouse. Safer."

I followed, stepping into sunlight. My old life rushed back—wolf strong, strength pulsing. But happiness? Gone.

The penthouse was lavish, but it felt like a cage. Gideon showed me to a guest room. "Rest. Brielle’s coming later."

I nodded absently. "Thanks."

That night, Brielle burst in, hugging me tight. "You’re free! And look at you—Alpha daughter vibes again."

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Friends are back too. Lila, Jax they visited in the cell."

We chatted, but I zoned out mid-sentence, Devon’s plea echoing: "Please, come back."

"Irene?" Brielle snapped her fingers. "You okay?"

"Fine."

Days blurred. Eleven to fifteen: Luxury returned. Spa days with old friends, pack events where I was honored again. Wolf howled inside, strong. I’d killed Devon—or thought I had. Happy ending, right? But no. Emptiness gnawed.

Day sixteen: Gideon’s mother, Elena, came for dinner. She swept in, elegant, kissing Gideon’s cheek. "My boy, the Alpha. And Irene—lovely as ever."

We ate—steak, wine. Elena eyed us. "You two look good together. Gideon, why not make it official? Marry her. Stabilize the pack."

Gideon glanced at me, smiled. "I agree. Irene?"

I blinked, zoning out. Devon’s voice: "Please, come back. I’ll wait."

"Irene?" Elena prompted.

"Uh, sure," I muttered.

Gideon beamed. "Then it’s settled."

They toasted. I stared at my plate.

Days seventeen to twenty: Wedding plans buzzed. Friends fawned. Brielle helped pick dresses. My wolf thrived, strength unmatched. Old life restored. But I wandered rooms, lost in thought. Devon’s obsession—clawing from the grave, building a world for me. "I’ll love you when you come back screaming my name."

Day twenty-one: Still here. Body held. But the pull grew.

Day twenty-two: Zoning out during lunch with friends. They laughed; I stared blankly.

Day twenty-three: Gideon noticed. "Irene, talk to me."

"Nothing," I lied.

Day twenty-four: Brielle cornered me. "You’re not happy. After everything—Devon dead, you free—why? Is it the wedding with Gideon, don’t you want it? It is an opportunity to be stronger. You know, as a Luna."

I shrugged. "Tired."

Day twenty-five: Devon’s words looped: "When your twenty days are up, you have only seven days to return. If you don’t, you’ll never be able to return again."

Seven days. Clock ticking. Five days gone already, two days to go. Two days before I never get the opportunity to see him again. Do I want this?

Day twenty-six: Living room, Gideon, Brielle, and me. They joked about wedding details.

"Gideon’s mom is thrilled," Brielle said. "You’ll be Luna soon."

Gideon grinned. "Perfect ending, right? You killed that bastard Devon, got your life back."

I froze. Killed Devon. But his plea—helpless, eyes wet. "Please, come back, Irene. Okay? I’ll wait." Obsession so deep he died for me, rose for me. Built a world. Loved me through hate.

My chest tightened. Gods, no. I loved him. The realization hit like a storm. Twisted, obsessive Devon. Mine.

"I... excuse me." I bolted to my room, slamming the door.

Gideon followed, bursting in. "Irene? What’s wrong?"

I paced, tears stinging. "I... I like Devon."

He stopped cold. "What?"

"I love him, Gideon. That ghost world—he built it for me. Obsessed, yeah, but he let me go. Begged me to return. I can’t stop thinking—"

Gideon’s face twisted in anger. "Devon? The monster who ruined you? Arrested your father, killed your brother? You killed him, Irene! And now you love him?"

"He died for me!" I shouted. "Clawed from the grave. Said he’d wait forever. It’s sick, but—"

"Sick? It’s insane!" He grabbed my arms. "You’re here. With me. Marrying me. Your happy ending!"

"I don’t want it!" I shoved him back. "Not without him."

He laughed bitterly. "You can’t do anything about it. He’s dead now. You made sure."

I whispered, "Yes, I can."

My mind screamed it: "Devon, I need you to come get me."

The world spun. Cold rushed in, burning like the portal. I collapsed, Gideon’s shout fading as darkness swallowed me.